Policy: Farm and Supply Chain Certification for Tea in Kenya (Version 1.3)

This document is currently binding as of March 1st 2026, until further notice. To view the previous (now expired) version of the document, click here.

What is this document about?

This policy has been developed to support the implementation of Version 1.4 of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard (SAS) – Farm Requirements, along with Version 1.5 of the Rainforest Alliance Supply Chain Requirements, within Kenya’s tea farming sector. It offers specific guidance and clarifications to ensure that the requirements of these standards are appropriately understood and applied within the local context. The revisions in this version incorporate stakeholder input and align the policy with the most recent Farm and Supply Chain standards, further strengthening the foundation laid by previous versions to enhance support for stakeholders seeking Rainforest Alliance certification.  

When and how to use this document?

Farm Certificate Holders scheduled for SAS V1.4 audits after March 1st, 2026, are required to consult this policy document. Certification Bodies (CBs) must likewise reference this document when evaluating requirements during audits. For Supply Chain Certificate Holders, relevant requirements have been in effect since January 1st, 2026. To ensure alignment with these standards, the requirement for farms to resume online traceability also became effective as of January 1st, 2026.

Overview of Changes in this Version  

1. Introduction

This policy has been created to adapt the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard, Farm Requirements and Supply Chain Requirements to tea farming operations in Kenya. It addresses only those requirements that require clarification for the country and crop context. The policy does not override the full purpose of the standards; instead, it highlights certain points for further explanation for Certificate Holders and Certification Bodies. If any standard requirement is not discussed here, Certificate Holders and Certification Bodies are still expected to follow the relevant requirements and rules.

2. Applicable Requirements for Farm Certificate Holders

2.1 Management

2.1.1 Service Providers – Requirement 1.2.2

Tea Certificate Holders must list these actors in their scope and on the Certification Application Form (CAF). Please note the list is not exhaustive:

• Service providers – security firms (E.g. Intercity, G4S, KK security)

• Labor providers (E.g. Cyka Manpower services, Koroso, Hastros)

Note: Greenleaf transporters, suppliers of firewood, and suppliers of pesticides, e.g. rentokil are not included in the scope of service providers. For firewood suppliers Certificate Holders must comply with requirement 6.8.1 on energy use efficiency

Once the CH has identified all relevant actors, they are required to evaluate every service and labor provider against the Standard's applicable requirements. The CH must:

• Establish mechanisms, including contractual agreements, to ensure that these entities adhere to the relevant requirements of the Standard for their activities within the certification scope.

• Maintain records of all assessments performed. Assessments may be retained in digital formats.

• Demonstrate the actions taken by the service or labor provider to meet applicable requirements if the assessment identifies any nonconformities with a Standard requirement.  

2.1.2 Farm Catchment Map – Requirement 1.2.9

When available, up-to-date catchment maps should be supplied in digital format during the audit.  

2.1.3 Provision of Polygons – Requirement 1.2.10

Groups of small farms must provide geolocations data in form of polygons for at least 10 percent of the farm units for the first certification audit. By the second certification audit, 30 percent of geolocation data of farm units must be in the form of polygons, and by the third certification audit, 100 percent of farm units must have geolocation data in the form of polygons.

2.1.4 Training Services - Requirements 1.3.3 and 1.3.4

Workers of large farms and individually certified farms must be trained on the following topics annually: 

• Gender equality and women's empowerment 

• Agrochemical management 

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategy 

• Child labor, forced labor, discrimination and workplace violence and harassment (Awareness Raising) 

• Occupational Health and Safety and Emergency Procedures 

Group members of small farms in group certification as well workers of the group must be trained on these topics annually:

• Good Internal Inspection practices including evaluations (For all internal inspectors)

• Gender equality and women's empowerment 

• Agrochemical management 

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategy

• Child labor, forced labor, discrimination and workplace violence and harassment (Awareness Raising) 

• Occupational Health and Safety and Emergency Procedures

• In accordance with the outcomes of the internal inspection, risk assessment, and management plan, group management may incorporate additional trainings beyond those explicitly specified in the standard. Such trainings must be documented in the management plan and implemented at least once in the certification cycle.

When trainings are mandated by law to be facilitated by qualified professionals, the applicable law supersedes the requirement in the standard. For internal trainings required by the standard, trainers of trainers (TOTs) can conduct trainings. 

2.2 Traceability

2.2.1 Reporting on the traceability platform - Requirement 2.2.1

All Farm Certificate Holders are required to use the Rainforest Alliance Traceability Platform to report volumes of Rainforest Alliance Certified tea sold as certified as of January 1st, 2026. This is applicable for volumes sold through auction or direct sale, and transactions must be reported within six weeks after the end of the quarter. More information can be found in the Traceability Annex.

Management must remove volumes not sold as Rainforest Alliance Certified and/or lost from the traceability platform within six weeks after the end of the quarter in which the activity took place.  

2.3 Farming

2.3.1 Soil Assessment - Requirement 4.4.1 and 4.4.2

All large farms certified as a group or individually must conduct a soil assessment on a representative sample of areas. This sample must include at least all the different production areas of the farm and soils with different characteristics.  

For groups of small farms, the soil assessment is carried out for a representative sample of areas. It is recommended to collect these samples based on topographic features of different zones. Leaf collection routes, zones, or villages may serve as guides for determining appropriate sampling locations.    

CHs must update the soil assessment at least once every 3 years. The entire assessment doesn't need to be redone; instead, the plan be re-checked and updated/amended if certain aspects have changed. If there are still aspects that need to be addressed, this must remain in the plan. This is the same principle used when updating the Management Plan. It is suggested that this assessment is done before the certification audit and then updated thereafter for each new 3-year certification cycle.

2.3.2 Agrochemical Management - Requirement 4.6.9

Management must train, communicate and follow up with workers and group members handling agrochemicals on the appropriate methods for cleaning and managing empty agrochemical containers.  

If the supplier does not accept empty containers, they must be cut or perforated to prevent them from being reused or repurposed. After containers have been cut or perforated, they can be brought to specific landfill/sandpits or destroyed using high-temperature incineration according to what is allowed under national legislation.  

Local solutions available can be used to manage these waste products, provided they are compliant with the requirements of the Standard and applicable local laws.

2.4 Social

2.4.1 Living Wage - Requirement 5.4.1

Total remuneration of all workers (permanent and temporary) employed by the CH must be assessed against any accepted Living Wage benchmark.  

This is not applicable to workers of small farms in groups. Small farms are defined as those with fewer than 10 permanent workers. Although the wage improvement plan is no longer required, CHs may still choose to use it as good business practice. 

Workers employed via labor providers who remain under contract and payment from the labor provider are exempt from assessment against the Living Wage benchmark. Nevertheless, the CH is responsible for ensuring that these workers receive at least the minimum wage stipulated by the Kenyan Tea Sector. 

Examples of acceptable Living Wage benchmarks Certificate Holders could consider include:

• Global Living Wage Coalition (recommended by the Rainforest Alliance): Living Wage for Rural Kericho, Kenya 2025: KSh 34,604 per month. See Living Wage for Rural Kericho, Kenya - Global Living Wage Coalition

• WageIndicator (for temporary workers): Living Wage for Kericho 2025: KSh 48,822 per month. See Living Wages – WageIndicator.

• Fair Wage Network: The Living Wage Database is available exclusively through private, paid access. See Living Wage Database – Fair Wage Network

2.4.2 Waste Management - Requirement 6.7.1  

CHs must include all waste management activities in the management plan and develop any policies or procedures as needed.  

Management is responsible for ensuring that workers and/or group members are informed of appropriate procedures for waste storage, treatment and disposal. This must include displayed communications outlining instructions on how to manage waste.  

Management must designate areas for waste disposal, treatment and storage which do not pose a risk to people, animals or the ecosystem.

Local and innovative methods may be used for waste management, such as those outlined in Kenya’s’ Sustainable Waste Management Act, No 31 of 2022 (responsibility of consumers):  

• Segregate non-hazardous waste into organic and non-organic fractions and place in properly labeled containers (at the IMS office/processing facilities), bins and bags.  

• Ensure collection, transportation and disposal of segregated waste by licensed handlers.  

• Embrace circularity by reusing, recovering, repurposing and recycling waste.  

• Opting for environmentally friendly options

2.5 Data Protection

All CBs must include a confidentiality clause of worker data shared in their contracts with Certificate Holders. This clause must stipulate that workers’ data shall not be shared with any party other than the Rainforest Alliance without prior written consent from the Certificate Holder.  

2.6 Audit Process Rules

2.6.1 Deforestation and Encroachment into Protected Areas Risk Assessment

As indicated in the Certification Rules (2.1.11), Certificate Holders must provide the geodata risk assessment to the CBs as part of the audit planning process. Audits must not proceed unless the CH has provided this assessment to the CB prior to the audit. If technical difficulties with the RACP prevent the CH from generating the risk assessment, the CB shall notify the Rainforest Alliance regarding these issues. The Rainforest Alliance may grant an exception permitting the use of the previous year risk assessment for the audit, provided there have not been significant changes to geodata in the GMR.

Certificate Holders using the new Rainforest Alliance Certification platform (MyRA/New RACP) are not required to share the geodata risk assessment, since the CBs will have direct access to the assessment results within the platform.  

2.6.2 Certification Timelines  

1. Certificate Holders and Certification Bodies must comply with the certification timelines set out in Version 1.1 of the Certification Rules for Farm. 

2. If a Certificate Holder has provided sufficient evidence of NC closure and this is confirmed by the Certification Body, before the maximum allowed 10 weeks after the last day of the audit, then the Certification Body must take a certification decision within two weeks of this closure. Thereafter, the Certification Body must submit the certification decision and the final audit report through the RACP within 1 week after the certification decision has been taken. 

    Example: the Certificate Holder provides sufficient evidence of NC closure 6 weeks after the audit was concluded. The Certification Body must verify the evidence of closure and take a certification decision with 2 weeks i.e. 8 weeks after the last day of the audit. The maximum of 12 weeks allowed to take the certification decision is only applied if the Certificate Holder took the maximum 10 weeks to close NCs.  

3. As per the Certification Rules:  

   • All Certificate Holders who have received one or more NCs shall close at least all NCs with both base and specialized requirements following the process described under section Nonconformities and Possible Consequences of the Certification Rules.  

   • The timeline for closure of the NCs shall be defined by the Certificate Holder and the Certification Body considering the maximum of 10 weeks after the last day of the audit that is defined for the CH to provide evidence of closure to the Certification Body.  

4. Non-certification or cancellation decision 

   • The Certification Body or the Rainforest Alliance may decide to immediately cancel the current certificate of the Certificate Holder and/or decide not to certify the Certificate Holder for any of the reasons set forth in the requirements, or any other reason if necessary to protect the credibility of the Rainforest Alliance certification program:  

   • Corrective actions have not been implemented satisfactorily within the timeframe described in the certification process above.  

   • As per the rules highlighted above a consequence for the Certificate Holder of not closing NCs within the 10-week timeframe can lead to a non-certification decision.  

2.6.3 Extension Requests

1. According to the section on possible extensions in the current version of the Certification Rules, Certificate Holders can submit a request to the Certification Body for a one-time extension of their certificate and license, for up to three months beyond the expiration date. This extension allows them to continue selling the tea as Rainforest Alliance Certified or to maintain continuous certification without interruption.  

2. A CH may request an extension only once per year, with a maximum duration of three months. The Rainforest Alliance reserves the right to deny an extension if it deems the circumstances to be risky.  

2.6.4 Incentivized Surveillance Audits

All SAS Farm Certificate Holders producing tea in Kenya are eligible for the incentives listed in version 1.1 of the Certification Rules, starting from when this policy becomes effective. The incentives are as follows:  

1. Good Performance: reduced sample size and scope of surveillance audits (3.4.5–3.4.7): 

Farms CHs that have no history of non-certification or cancelation in the previous three years are eligible to have a sample size of 75 percent of the square root of small farms. Group CHs with large farms are eligible for 75 percent of the 25 percent sample of large farms. 

2. Great Performance: further reduced sample size or a remote audit (3.4.8–3.4.9): 

Group farm Certificate Holders meeting the criteria below that receive a positive certification decision in their first surveillance audit, are eligible to receive a reduced sample size of 50 percent of the square root of small farms in their second surveillance audit. 

• No history of non-certification or cancelation in the previous three years. 

• No NCs issued during the previous audit in the certification cycle on any of below mentioned topics: 

1. Loss of physical traceability  

2. Application of prohibited pesticides, excluding an exception 

3. Assess-and-Address remediation 

4. Deforestation and encroachment on protected areas 

Individual farm CHs meeting the conditions in section above may receive their second surveillance audit as a remote audit, as long as they can meet the requirements for a remote surveillance audit as in the Auditing Rules. 

Note: Certificate Holders with 10,000 members or more benefiting from the maximum sample size of 100 are not eligible for the two incentives above. 

3. Outstanding Performance: skip second surveillance audit (3.4.10): 

Farm CHs that meet the following requirements are eligible to skip the second Surveillance Audit:  

• No history of non-certification or cancelation in the previous three years. 

• No NCs issued during the previous surveillance audit on any of the below mentioned topics: 

1. Loss of physical traceability 

2. Application of prohibited pesticides, excluding an exception 

3. Deforestation and encroachment on protected areas 

4. Any base requirements in the Social Chapter  

During verification, the following NCs do not disqualify a CH for the incentives: 

• Loss of physical traceability – refers to the inability to track or verify the physical location, movement, or status of certified tea through the supply chain or production/ processing process. Nonconformities in the following requirements are not considered as loss of physical traceability:  

1. All requirements in the farm standard section 2.2 on online traceability 

2. 2.1.1 yield estimations  

3. 2.1.4 product flow map 

4. 2.1.9 methodology of conversion factors 

• Deforestation and encroachment on protected areas - this only relates to nonconformities where cases of deforestation or encroachment into protected areas have been confirmed during the audit .

2.6.5 Scope of Surveillance Audits

This section is applicable to all Rainforest Alliance’s tea farm Certificate Holders for all surveillance audits within the certification cycle. In addition, the following sampling adjustments from version 1.1 of the auditing rules (5.5) must be made: 

• For Group Certificate Holders, the Certification Bodies may visit more than six group members per day per auditor. For large farms, it shall be maximum three farms per day per auditor.    

• During these surveillance audits, CBs must focus on auditing the following topics:

1. All requirements with non-conformities raised during the previous audit 

2. All requirements in the management chapter 

3. All requirements in the social chapter 

4. All requirements on deforestation and encroachment on protected areas 

5. All applicable indicators 

2.6.6 Maximum Sample Size

The default sample size for groups with 10,000 members or more, will be 100. However, the Certificate Holders qualifying for this will only be eligible for the outstanding performance incentive.

2.6.7 Investigation Audits

Additionally, as per the certification rules (2.3.45), where the matters under investigation are not confirmed, the Certification Body must cover all the costs of conducting the audit.  

2.6.8 Rainforest Alliance Grievance Mechanism

As outlined in the Certification Rules (4.3), any grievance concerning the Rainforest Alliance shall be handled according to the Rainforest Alliance Grievance Procedure.

CHs, CBs, or other stakeholders in the certification process, can submit any grievance related to compliance with the Rainforest Alliance Certification Program and its trademarks through the online grievance form on the Rainforest Alliance website.  

The CH shall first submit a grievance through the grievance procedure of the CB if the grievance pertains to a decision made by the CB. If the If that does not resolveoutcome of the grievance is not satisfactory, , the CH may submit a grievance through the Rainforest Alliance Grievance Procedure. Please refer to the Certification Rules or the Grievance Procedure for more information.

2.6.9 Cost Transparency Tool

For all audits, Certification Bodies must fill in the cost transparency tool prior to the audit and make it available to the Rainforest Alliance upon request. Certificate Holders may also access this information by requesting it to the Rainforest Alliance.

2.6.10 Certification Bodies Fee Structure

For all Certification Bodies offering certification services in Kenya:

1. The CB is required to publish its fee structure and costs for certification services on its official website. The fee structure shall include at minimum fixed or variable costs related to:

• Audit preparation

• Certificate issuance

• Review and Certification decision

• Audit reporting

• Administrative costs (application review for acceptance, contract preparation, audit preparation, etc)

• Audit execution per hour/day/per auditor

• Travel and accommodation expenses (lodging, flights, food, other logistic costs)

• Fees related to the review and closure of nonconformities (if applicable)

• Auditor Per Diem (if applicable)

• Certificate time extension

2. If off-site interviews or consultations with interested parties are required, the applicable fees will remain the same as those for a standard audit process, with adjustments only for the additional time invested.

3. Any additional fee not included above, shall also be published on the CB website

4. The CB Fee structure shall not refer to the fee for CBs from the CB Fee Catalogue

5. The CBs shall bear the costs of the surprise audits that are additional to the certification and surveillance audits. The CB shall also bear the cost related to the review and closure of nonconformities raised during a surprise audit.

This requirement shall be mandatory from the binding date of this policy.

3. Requirements for Supply Chain Certificate Holders

The requirements below are effective for volumes purchased starting January 1, 2026.

3.1 Traceability

All Supply Chain Certificate Holders who are purchasing Rainforest Alliance Certified tea from Kenya Farm Certificate Holders will be required to use the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform. The volumes originating from Kenyan tea Farm Certificate Holders must be transacted in the Rainforest Alliance Traceability Platform through to the manufacturing of the finished product, ready for sale to the end consumer. In the case where the Kenyan tea volumes are blended with volumes from other origins; the Kenyan Tea volumes will be transacted through the Rainforest Alliance Traceability Platform while the other volumes may not. More information can be found in the Traceability Annex. 

3.2 Premium

For volumes originating from Kenya Farm Certificate Holders, a different entity is responsible for the payment of premium and there is a mandatory minimum premium amount: 

1. Entity responsible for the payment of premium: First entity receiving the transaction from the Farm Certificate Holder. This could be in a direct sale or the first purchase from the auction house. 

2. Minimum premium amount for Kenya tea: 50 USD/Metric Ton of made tea equivalent (0.05 USD/kg). The minimum premium requirement is only applicable for Kenyan tea volumes that are sold via auction and not applicable for direct sale transactions.

The payment of the premium will happen directly between the Farm Certificate Holder and the entity receiving the first transaction as defined above. If the entity originally responsible for paying the premium invoice, as defined above, transfers this obligation to another entity further along the supply chain, the original responsible entity must still provide evidence of payment for that invoice within the deadlines set by the traceability activities of the entity responsible. The Rainforest Alliance payment facility will not be used for these payments. However, the payment must be reported on the traceability platform and audited by the CB. More information can be found in the Premium Annex. 

3.3 Royalties

For volumes originating from Kenyan Farm Certificate Holders, a different entity is responsible for the payment of the royalty. The entity responsible is the first entity receiving the transaction from the Farm Certificate Holder in the traceability platform. This could be in a direct sale or the first purchase from the auction house. The royalty will be triggered upon confirmation of the transactions in the Rainforest Alliance Traceability Platform, as required by the Supply Chain Requirements, and invoiced on a monthly basis. More information can be found in the Rainforest Alliance License Agreement General Terms and Conditions. 

Other information

Date of first publication of this document (v 1.0): December 11th, 2023

Documents indicated as “binding” must be complied with for certification. Documents indicated as “non-binding” provide non-mandatory information to help readers understand and implement requirements and other binding content.

Translation Disclaimer

For any question related to the precise meaning of the information in a translation, consult the official English version for clarification. Any errors or differences in meaning due to translation are not binding and have no effect for auditing or certification purposes.

Reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of this content is strictly forbidden without prior written consent from Rainforest Alliance.  

More information?

For help in obtaining a Rainforest Alliance certificate reach out to our Customer Success team at customersuccess@ra.org

For more information about Rainforest Alliance, visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org contact info@ra.org or the Rainforest Alliance Amsterdam Office, De Ruijterkade 6, 1013AA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.